Cloning
Cloning Kits
To insure success and to have all of the necessary supplies for cloning I highly recommend purchasing a cloning kit. These kits are relatively inexpensive and can be easily and discreetly ordered off the internet. The one shown above includes a 10 x 20 inch tray, an insert which will accommodate 50 rock wool plugs, cloning gel, 92 rock wool plugs, a bottle of anti-wilt solution and razor blades. It sells for about $40.00 and is shipped by Discount Hydroponics in a discreet plain cardboard box. I suggest purchasing an extra sheet of plugs, Olivia’s cloning solution and a bottle of Bioneem insect repellant, total cost…………….$70.00
Have your work space organized and your supplies handy. Once a tip is cut it is important that it be submersed in the cloning gel or dipped in distilled water ( I use rain water) and cloning powder before an air bubble forms at the beveled cut. Some growers make their final bevel cut with the tip submerged in water to avoid this. If a bubble forms the clone will wilt and die. If you are using a tray it is a good idea to arrange your plugs so that there is room for the leaves to grow. See above photo.
Once you have clones to work with there is no question about the sex of your cloned plants but for the first timers it is important that you clone before the flowering begins. Not knowing if you are cloning a male or female plant, make sure you label the parent as well as the clone. After flowering begins cull the males and save them for making hash. Let’s begin…………..
1. Pick out a lower branch that has 2 - 3 leaf nodes for a good cutting. It should be 4 - 6 inches long and be fairly pliable . Using a sharp razor blade cut the tip close to the stalk of the plant.
2. Leaving 3 sets of leaves at the tip of the cutting remove the 4th set of leaves at the node.
3. Make a clean 45 degree bevel cut just below the node where you removed the set of leaves. This allows the maximum surface area for new roots to grow.
4. Quickly dip clone into cloning gel, or if you are using powder, dip into water and then powder making sure the stem is completely covered. Insert into rock wool plug and place in tray. Mist leaves with water twice daily and dampen rock wool plugs each day as needed. Do not allow plugs to sit in water. l b t t
Poke hole prior to insertion Clones after 2 days under lights
Cannabis plants do not like wet feet so do not fill your tray with water. Check your cuttings daily and pour enough water on them to moisten, about once a day. I use Olivia’s cloning solution to mist my cuttings and if the inside of my cover becomes dry I apply a mist of water on it. After about two weeks you should have roots beginning to protrude through the rock wool cubes, you now have a clone of your original plant. I place my clones in small peat pots and allow two weeks of vegetative growth under a metal halide lamp. After a couple of weeks I transfer to 6 inch nursery pots until they are large enough to plant into the ground or under lights indoors
el ,